Thomas Munro
Explanation
The Ryotwari system was a land revenue settlement introduced in British India, primarily implemented in the Madras and Bombay Presidencies. It marked a shift from the Permanent Settlement (Zamindari system) by establishing a direct relationship between the government and the cultivator.
Detailed Analysis:
- Thomas Munro: The Ryotwari system was originally experimented with by Captain Alexander Read in the Baramahal district in 1792. However, it was Thomas Munro who fully developed and implemented the system throughout the Madras Presidency during his tenure as Governor of Madras (1820–1827). Under this system, the ownership rights were handed over to the peasants (ryots), and the British government collected taxes directly from them.
- Robert Clive: He is associated with the establishment of the Dual System of Government in Bengal (1765–1772) following the Treaty of Allahabad, not the Ryotwari system.
- Holt Mackenzie: He is associated with the formulation of the Mahalwari system (1822), which was implemented in the North-Western Provinces, parts of Central India, and Punjab. In this system, revenue was settled with the village community (Mahal) collectively.
- Warren Hastings: He served as the first Governor-General of Bengal. He is known for abolishing the Dual System introduced by Clive and introducing the Izaredari system (revenue farming) based on annual or five-year auctions.
Key Takeaway: The Ryotwari system (Direct settlement with Ryots) is associated with Thomas Munro and Alexander Read in Madras and Bombay. The Mahalwari system (Village-based settlement) is associated with Holt Mackenzie in North-Western India.